Air cleaner for gas engines



' July 23, 1940.

s. E. HOPKINS AIF. CLEANER FOR GAS' ENGINES Filed March :5, 1939 TEE-- ATTORNEY. I

Patented July 23, 1940 UNITED STATES r TENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in air cleaners for gasolene engines.

One object of the invention is to provide an air cleaner in which all filters and the like are eliminated. In eliminating filters, as is well known in the art, all possibility of said filter being stopped up by dirt and the like is eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air cleaner particularly adapted for use in the ginning industry, which cleaner uses an air pressure and oil combination to retain dirt and the like and at the same time allow the clean air to pass into the carburetor of a gas engine.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an air cleaner so constructed as to be adaptable to gas engines or vehicles such as tractors, trucks, passenger automobiles or the like.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an air cleaner which not only connects to the carburetor but also has provided a communication with the crank case of the engine on which the invention is applied wherein all unburnt gases or fumes are recirculated through vacuum from the crank case to the air cleaner.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and byreference to the accompanying drawing wherein a means for carrying out the invention are shown and wherein:

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view of an air cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional detail view of the back-lash valve, and

Figure 4 is an elevation'of a slightly modified form of valve.

In the drawing, the numeral l designates a cylindrical tank having an upwardly inclined top I l and a bottom portion l2 being suitably secured to the portion ill by flanges l3 and bolts M. The bottom l2 has a false bottom l5 therein, said bottom being semi-spherical in shape.

A hole I6 is provided in the top H whereby a suitable inlet pipe I! may be inserted therein, said pipe having an outwardly extending flange l8 welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto whereby said pipe may be suspended within the tank In and through the opening I6. A spiral l9 preferably constructed of fiat material and turned to form one complete spiral, is disposed within the lower end of the inlet l'l.

Connected at a point above the flange I8 is a pipe 20 having one end connected to the crank case (not shown), whereby fumes and unburnt gases may be introduced into the inlet H as will hereinafter be explained. By introducing these fumes and unburnt gases, particles in the air entering the inlet will be premoistened or damp;

ened by the hot fumes whereby the cleaning process is facilitated.

A suitable oil level A is maintained within the bottom l2 wherebyair entering under atmospheric pressure through the inlet I! will contact this oil whereby any lint or dirt particles will adhere to said oil and the air will pass upwardly to the carburetor as will be hereinafter described.

An opening 2| is formed in the wall of the tank I0 near the upper end thereof and a suitable air outlet 22 is inserted therein. The outlet also includes a back-lash valve 23. Connected to the outer end of the valve 23 are suitable carburetor connections 24. Thevalve comprises a gravity operated flap 25 which is pivoted at 26 whereby when at such times as the motor back-fires and causes the back pressure in the lines 24 as indicated by the arrows in Figure 3, the valve is so constructed as to force this added back pressure against the flap 25 of the valve 23. This pressure will cause the flap to assume the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3.

In operation, as the motor (not shown) is started vacuum will be created in the lines 24, valve 23, outlet 22, tank Ill and inlet [1. This will, of course, cause air to enter the inlet ll, contact the spirals l9 to give the incoming air a spiral or cyclone movement. Also at this time a vacuum is created within the pipe 20 connecting the inlet and crank case whereby fumes are drawn from the crank case and into the inlet with the fresh air. As the air leaves the inlet I! it contacts the oil B within the bottom l2. Dirt, lint or the like which has been drawn in with the air adheres to the oil allowing only clean air to pass upwardly through the outlet 22, valve 23 and into the carburetor connections 24. As has been explained, the valve 23-accommodates any back-fires of the engine thereby eliminating the' possibility of the back-pressure entering the tank l0 and forcing oil out the top of the inlet H.

In Figure 4 is shown a slightly modified form of back-lash valve 26 having a flap 21 pivoted thereon. This valve may be disposed at any point in the line 28 connecting the tank ID to the carburetor or, if desired, may be connected directly to the carburetor.

Inwardly extending, downwardly turned ring 3!] is disposed between the flanges of the portions and I2, and also if desired, a perforated plate 3| may also be positioned above the ring 30. As the oil is given a slightly swirling motion,

particles of dirt and the like may be washed upwardly of the walls of the tank and may enter the outlet 22. Therefore, the ring 30 is provided whereby these particles will be obstructed in their upward passage and the weight of the oil adhered to said particles will eventually through gravity, return said particles to the bottom I5. To further carry out this principle, inwardly and downwardly extending rings 33 and 34 are positioned within the tank ID at any suitable or desirable points.

As stated, the perforated plate 3| is optional but is preferred to be used particularly in connection with the device when said device is used on moving vehicles. This plate will prevent the oil from splashing and maintain a more equal level throughout the operation.

It is to be noted that the inner diameter of the inlet ll is to be equal that of the carburetor inlets 24. To accomplish these relative ratios in the event the device is used on different carburetors having different openings, a detachable plate 35 is provided to insure the required opening to the carburetor being used. By observing Figure 1, it will be seen that the opening IE is of a much larger diameter than the opening of the inlet ll whereby a larger or smaller inlet pipe secured to a flange, similar to the flange l8 may be inserted within the tank Ill. Thus it will be seen that at all times the ratio between the carburetor inlet and that of the tank inlet may be made equal whereby air enters the tank ll! under atmospheric pressure.

, .A pet cook 36 is provided within the bottom portion l2 whereby the level of the oil therein may be held to the level A.

A second flap valve 25' is positioned in the opening 22. In the event that natural gas is being used as a fuel, this valve 25 will prohibit gas fumes from entering the interior of the machine thereby eliminating the possibility of an explosion. The valve, during operation of the engine (not shown), is in the position shown in dotted lines, Figure 3.

From the foregoing it may be seen that a device simple in construction and cheap in manufacture may be had which will positively omit particles such as lint or the like from the air to be used in a gasolene engine carburetor.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed within the scope and meaning of the appended claim is also considered -to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

An air cleaner for gas engines comprising a chamber adapted to hold a mass of oil, an inlet conduit suspended in said chamber axially with respect thereto and having its lower end terminating in close proximity to the level of the oil in said chamber and admitting vapors and gases from the crank-case of said engine, means for imparting a swirling motion to the vapors passing through said inlet conduit, a perforated plate disposed above the oil level in said chamber, circumferential flanged bafiles disposed on the walls of said chamber, an outlet conduit for clean vapors from said chamber adapted to connect with the intake of an internal combustion engine, and cooperative valve means in said outlet conduit for prohibiting entrance of vapors into said chamber through said outlet conduit upon reversal of the direction of travel of said vapors.

SAMUEL E. HOPKINS. 

